title: Classification of CAM use and its correlates in patients with early-stage breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Self-reported use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been shown to increase following a cancer diagnosis, and breast cancer survivors are the heaviest users among cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to determine whether the prevalence estimate of CAM use varied according to classification of CAM. The authors used a comprehensive system to classify CAM users and test differences in demographic, lifestyle, quality of life, and cancer characteristics among them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 2562 breast cancer survivors participating in the Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) Study, aged 28 to 74 years. A structured telephone interview assessed CAM use, questioning about specific CAM practices, and whether use was related to cancer. This study examined CAM use in relation to demographics, health behaviors, and quality of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Approximately 80% of the women used CAM for general purposes but only 50% reported CAM use for cancer purposes. Visual imagery, spiritual healing, and meditation were the most frequently used practices for cancer purposes. CAM use, defined as consulting a CAM practitioner and regular use, was significantly related to younger age, higher education, increased fruit and vegetable intake, and lower body mass index (P < .05). CAM users who had seen a practitioner were also more likely to report poor physical and mental health than non-CAM users (P < .05). CAM use was not associated with changes in physical and mental health between study baseline and 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study addressed important differences in the classification of CAM use among breast cancer survivors. Future studies need to further test the potential benefits and risks associated with CAM use.
authors.affiliation: UCSD Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA 92093-0901, USA.
authors.forename: Juliann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saquib
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madlensky
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kealey
authors.forename: Nazmus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saquib
authors.forename: Loki
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.forename: Vicky A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Pierce
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D026441:Mind-Body Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009043:Motor Activity; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009324:Naturopathy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors; D019124:Therapeutic Touch / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome